Fire-escape



No Modelk HRB ESCAPE.

Patented Feb. 24,

l--- n. l n I Li w 1 v u ..1/ 2: u ll Il x f. .L w `Y 1 u 3 sheets 'sheen 2.

(No Model.)

`z. LUDWIG. PIRE BscAPE.

11Pgtented Feb UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

zaeHARIas LUDWIG, or oAItLAXn, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,874, dated February 24, 1885.

l Application filed June 12, 1894. (No model.) i

To @ZZ wtom'z't may concern:

Be vit known that I, ZAoIIAnIAs LUDwIG, of the city of Oakland, in the county ot' Alameda and State of California, have invented an I m provenient in Fire-Escapes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, `and cxact description thereof.

Myinvention relates, to an apparatus which is especially used as a lire-escape, although it may be used for other purposes where it is necessary for persons to raise or lower themselves within a building without the use of au `engine or any other exterior mechanism.

applying the saule, so as to regulate the rate of deseentpsecondary ropes passing around pulleys upon the uppex` eable-dIl1I1'1,aIId other` pulleys situated beneath he lower lloor or point of rest, ,and` evers or' arms within the eage,whiclrma be aplied to produce friet-ion against the ropes pa g to regulate the de. eeutof the cage.

It also consists in'the application of Vsupplemental weights having ropes passing over pulleys andleadngl own into the inside of the well within ywhich the 'cage' moves, with hooks or attachments near the bottom, where they remain attached when ont of use. \Vhen it is desired to elevate the cage toA `the top ot' the shaft or well, two or more of these ropes may be detached from their faster-rings and attachedt -to the sides ofthe cage, so that Athe add tional weights upon the opposite ends of the ropes will assist in raisingthe cage to the top. Between the walls of t' e .clevatorshaft and the` surrounding portions of the building may be formedban zur-space, which will c'arry away any smoke which may enter it, andmay also prevent undue heatingef the eltwator-shaft by reason of the tire surrouiuling it, so that it will be possible for persons Referring to the accompanying drawings for Iamore complete explanation of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing,r the exterior frame-work surrounding the lelevatorshaft within which the cage travels, a drum,

shaft, suspemling-ropes, pulleys, weights, .A

brake, and check mechanism.

through a plane of the axis of the shaft. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a vertical section taken trans Fig. 2, Sheet g 2, is a vertical section of the apparatus taken versely to the axis of t'he shaft. Fig. 4 is anll or shaft within which the elevator has lto work, vi

and B is the cage or platform adapted to move up and down, the shaft being guided bythe upright guides A, which retain it inwplaee 'The elevator-shalt is preferably entirely closed or sheathed, so as to prevent any drafts of air or entrance of smoke or ilames through the sides in case of tire. This elevator shaft or ing around these pulleys "space, C, formed between it and the secondary w:'lls within the building, so that an airspace: is rmed around the elevatorshaft andindependent from it. This space also serves for the weights by which the elevator is operated.

D is a` cable or rope by which the cage B is well is preferably surrounded by auopen suspended. VIn the present case I have shown".` f

it in two parts, the bight of which is-attaehed t-o the link E, which extends upward above the center of the upper cross-bar of the cage with the usual safety arms or catches, F, and

actuating-spring for use if the rope .should 1 break. The two parts of the 'rope are'coiled around the roller or drum G, which extends across labove 'the upper part of the elevatorshaft, and has its ends suitably journaled, so

thatit maybe revolved to wind or unwindfthe pended from their. lower ends, these weights being o'f sullicient size t eounterbzllanee the weight of the cage and any reasonable additional weight which maybe placed upon it.

It will be seenthat when the cageI is in Its normal position it will\be at. the top of thel elevator-shaft and opposite the door shown Aat .J. Whenever one or more persons desire vto descend, it will only be necessary for them to IOO ri enlating the descent of thc cage.

step upon the platform, when their weight willovercomethat ofthe counter-Milances, and the cage will descend to the bottom ofthe shaft, when the occupants may esmtpethrough the door shown at L is a drum or roller fixed upon the end of the shaft G, and M )I are brake-bloehspvhieh press against the sides of this roller. These brake-blocks are fixed to vertical arms and levers O are soeonnected with them that they may be actuated by cords If, which extend down through the elevator shaft or well, and alongside or through the platform or cage, so that the occupant may,i by taking hold ofthe rope P, force the brake showir at; )I against the roller L with any desired pressure, and thus regulate the rapidity with whiclrlhc cage may descend. 2

As an additional check and safety device for this eage,I have ropes Q, which pass over pulleys R at the top and bottoin above and, bclow the space traversed by the cage, so that the ropes pass through or close to the edge of; the cage or platform.

Upon the side timbers of the cage or platform areiixed lever-arms S, which may be turned about their pivot-pins by means of handles 'if projecting from them, as shown in Fig. 4. Upon the oppositccnd of thesclcvcrarms are other Inojeeting arms, lf, which press against the ropes Q whenever the handlesT are either pushed upward or downward. Ihesc'amns U pressing against ropes Q compress them againstI the side. timbers of the cage, and thus serve as a check which may he, applied with any desired force to assist in \l hen thecage has arrived at the bottom, and it is necessary for it to again go to the top, if the weights already connected wit-h it are not suflcient to carry it up, an additional power may be applied by means of the weights at V'. These weights areattached to ropes W, which elvtend from pulleys X, and thence down inside the elevator-shaft to a point near the bottom, where they are provided with hooks or other means, by which 'they may be attached to the inside walls of the elevatorshaft. By unhooking thcse'and attaching them to points around the elevator-cage the power of these weights V will be applied so as to assist in again raising it to t-hc top.

As many of these weights may be used as may be desired, and it will be seen that when a. suicient number of them are attached to thc cage it may be made to carry np one or more persons, il' necessary.

Beneath-thespacc traversed. by the elevatorcage is a shaft; having the lower pulleys, R, before mentioned, around which the check ropes pass, and this shaft may also have a brake, Y, applied to it in case it is nccessarv to bring any further pressure'upon it to prevent too rapid a descent ofthe cage.

The cage may have guidcpulleys at Z, as

shown, am these traveling against the guidetimbers of `the well or shaft cause it to move very freelyf.

A is a screw-clamp with a friction-roller, which inaylbe caused to press upon the rope Q, and thus assistfto check the descent of the cage, if necessary.

lihe lowtir shalt may have a crank or gear wheels, through which power may be applied, if necessary, through the ropes Q, either to check the descent of the cage or to raise it to the top, the ropes Q being in such a ease clamped on secured to the cage.

Havingr tlhus described niyinventionl` what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent, is-f .1. A treleseape apparatus consisting of a eagc suspended by ropes from a. horizontal drum or sh'aft jourualed above the elevatorwell, connterbalantze-weights suspended from ropes coiled around thc shaft in opposite direction, an inelosed well within which the cage travels, and a surrounding chamber or space between tle elevator-well and the other portions ofthe building, ras herein described. 2. A tre-escal'ie apparatus consisting of a well wil h a surrounding open space. a cago or platform suspended from the horizontal shaft above so Ias to Ytravel within the well, colinterl)Mance-weights I, together with the checks or regulator consistingr of ropes Q, passing around pulleys at the top and bottom, and the levers S, with arms U, adapted yto pressgainst the ropes, as herein described.

3. A freescapeconsisting of a well having IOO a surrounding air chamber or space, a eage 4. A iireescape consisting of a well with,

the surrounding air chamber or space, a. plat;- forni or cage suspended from a horizontal shaft above, and having counter-'weights and regulating devices and brakes, as shown, together with the brake-lever Y, adapted to be applied to the lower shaft, as herein described.

l/IO

1n witness whereof lj have' hereunto set' my hand.

ZACHARI'AS LUDWIG. Witnesses:

F. EenUNNInm'rnxxm, (liao. II. S'rnoso. 

